Host: Dr. Joseph Varon Guests: Dr. Paul Marik, Laura Delano
This week, IMA President Dr. Joseph Varon is joined by IMA Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Paul Marik and special guest Laura Delano, author of Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance, for a raw and revealing discussion on the hidden harms of SSRIs. Drawing from her personal journey through—and out of—the psychiatric system, Laura sheds light on the dangers of overdiagnosis, the suppression of emotional suffering, and the pharmaceutical narratives that continue to shape mental health care.
As RFK Jr. and other public health voices begin to question the influence of psychiatric medications, this timely conversation examines identity, informed consent, youth mental health, and whether psychiatry needs reform—or a total rethink. Whether you’ve taken these medications yourself, are currently questioning a diagnosis, or simply want a deeper understanding of the risks and realities, this is a conversation that demands your attention.
The numbers are staggering. Over 45 million Americans are currently taking SSRIs, making them among the most commonly prescribed medications in the world. But what if the foundational story we’ve been told about these drugs is dangerously misleading?
“Interestingly enough, the use of antidepressants has increased fourfold since the 1990s,” reveals Dr. Joseph Varon, IMA President. “It’s like anybody that comes to your office for anything—you look at the list of medications, and one of them is going to be an antidepressant.”
This explosive growth coincides with a troubling reality: the very foundations of modern psychiatry may be built on flawed science and industry influence that prioritizes profits over patient welfare.
The Shocking Reality of SSRI Efficacy
The most shocking revelation comes from the data itself. Despite being prescribed to tens of millions, SSRIs demonstrate minimal clinical benefit.
“Just to be clear, the efficacy of SSRIs is minimal,” states Dr. Paul Marik, IMA Chief Scientific Officer. “Studies show that they’re almost, in terms of treating depression, as effective as placebo. Perhaps 2% to 3% of patients actually demonstrate a clinical benefit with these drugs.”
For every 100 people prescribed SSRIs, only 2-3 will experience meaningful improvement beyond placebo. Yet these medications cause extensive side effects including physical dependence, sexual dysfunction affecting 80% of users, and increased suicide risk. SSRIs receive FDA approval based on 6-8 week trials, yet patients take them for years with virtually no long-term safety data.
Related Read: Busting 11 Pernicious Myths About Mental Illness
The Serotonin Theory of Mental Health Unraveled
For decades, patients have been told they suffer from a “chemical imbalance” requiring pharmaceutical correction. Recent comprehensive research has demolished this cornerstone of modern psychiatry.
“The main areas of serotonin research provide no consistent evidence of there being an association between serotonin and depression,” Dr. Marik explains. This revelation exposes what amounts to massive misdirection by psychiatric associations and pharmaceutical companies.
If the serotonin theory lacks scientific foundation, then the entire rationale for SSRI prescribing crumbles—leaving millions taking potentially harmful medications for dubious benefits.
Laura’s Journey: A Personal Window into Systemic Failure
Laura Delano, author of “Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance,” illuminates the human cost of psychiatric overreach. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 14, she spent 14 years in what she calls “a very influential relationship with the American mental health industry.”
Despite attending Harvard and appearing high-achieving, Laura was prescribed 19 different medications and eventually attempted suicide at age 27. The system labeled her “treatment resistant”—essentially declaring her too sick for their treatments to help.
“At that point, that was really a turning point. Was psychiatry really helping me or was it harming me?” She chose to withdraw from all diagnoses and medications, transforming from psychiatric patient to reform advocate.
The “Medicalization” of Human Experience
Laura’s insights reveal how modern culture has medicalized normal human responses to stress and life challenges.
“Our culture has been inculcated into this idea that if you are feeling emotional pain or having trouble focusing, this means this is a symptom of an illness,” Laura observes. “When we talk about struggles, we call them symptoms, and people don’t even realize that it’s just one ideological framework.”
The COVID pandemic provided a stark example. People experiencing rational responses to isolation and grief were funneled into psychiatric offices for pharmaceutical treatment. Young people are now “taught to almost romanticize being sick. The more labels you have, the more meds you’re on, the more these symbolize how much you’re struggling.”
Learn more:
The Withdrawal Crisis No One Talks About
Perhaps the most damning indictment is widespread ignorance about medication discontinuation.
“Most psychiatrists will prescribe SSRIs for you, but they will not explain to you how to get off them,” Dr. Marik states. “Most psychiatrists and doctors don’t know how to get people off.”
Laura estimates 66 million Americans are on psychiatric drugs, creating “potential for a huge public health crisis if people don’t learn about safe ways of tapering.” The withdrawal community she describes represents a grassroots response to medical abandonment, with over 100,000 people worldwide helping each other taper safely.
People become their own pharmacists, counting capsule beads and creating liquid suspensions because the medical system provides no formal guidance.
Learn more: Inner Compass (Tapering Off Medications)
Evidence-Based Solutions That Actually Work
Luckily, research reveals superior alternatives to SSRIs hiding in plain sight. Studies demonstrate that certain nutraceuticals consistently outperform antidepressants.
“This study demonstrates that omega-3s, SAMe, curcumin were significantly more effective in the treatment of depression than antidepressants,” Dr. Marik explains. “Psychiatrists don’t know this. Psychiatrists don’t want to know this.”
Vitamin D supplementation costs $7 monthly while new antidepressants cost $1,400 monthly with inferior results. Laura’s recovery emphasized dietary changes and eliminating inflammatory foods. She found her turning point through mutual aid in 12-step programs, discovering “that help doesn’t always need to come from someone with letters after their name.”
For parents facing pressure to medicate struggling children, Laura advocates “starting with curiosity. There is a reason why your kid is struggling, and it doesn’t live inside their brain and faulty brain chemistry.”
Dr. Paul Marik’s comprehensive monograph “Managing Depression” provides healthcare providers and patients with evidence-based alternatives to psychiatric drugging, emphasizing nutritional interventions, lifestyle modifications, and addressing root causes rather than suppressing symptoms.
Learn more:
The Time for Change is Now
Laura’s message emphasizes hope over helplessness: “Don’t lose hope. You are not sentenced to the stories that you may have been told about yourself. Start asking questions and educate yourself.”
When scientific foundations prove false and safer alternatives demonstrate superior outcomes, continuing current practices becomes ethically indefensible. The 45 million Americans taking SSRIs deserve honest information, safe withdrawal protocols, and access to evidence-based alternatives. The time for protecting pharmaceutical profits over patient welfare has ended.
Remember, there is more to mental health than a pill or a quick fix. And by the way, don’t forget about brain health! And also, the importance of stress relief. A healthier mind could begin with a healthier brain and a less stressed body:
